Lando Norris still has to let it sink in that he is this year’s reigning world champion. The Brit admits he would have liked another month to “enjoy everything” after securing his maiden world title at the recent Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He’s nevertheless hugely excited for the new season, and knows exactly what his job is as the fresh champion: “Do it all again.”
Lando Norris stands on the eve of his first Formula 1 season as the reigning world champion. The driver became the eleventh Brit to put a world title on his CV at the Abu Dhabi GP, with only a two-point margin over second-placed Max Verstappen. Norris, however, could not relax for long as the newly crowned champion; with a completely new rule package for both chassis and power unit for the 2026 season, the Formula 1 year started early.
‘Dream has become reality’
The realization that he will soon have to defend his title still hasn’t fully sunk in for Norris. Right now the Brit is mostly just fired up for the new season. “I’m excited about everything!” the McLaren driver told F1. “Do I wish I had another month to lean back and enjoy it all, to take it all in? It was a few weeks (since Abu Dhabi, ed.) in which I was just trying to process what happened last year. It had become reality, my dream.”
“I think I’m still trying to accept it and to realise that it really happened,” Norris continues. “At the same time it’s time to get back to work and we have to try to do it all again.” The Brit took to the track in Barcelona on Wednesday for the first run in the brand-new MCL40. On Friday he even posted the second‑quickest time of the day, behind Lewis Hamilton. Norris says his new status as reigning world champion is a motivator. “It makes me happy and gives me a lot of confidence for this season, but it’s so different — such a big challenge with all the rules and changes this year. I feel good, and I’m happy. I’ve achieved something big in my life.”
